Penn State heads into Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor looking for answers, while Michigan comes in rested and ready after a bye week.
The Wolverines are 3-2 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play, but both conference losses have come by a total of seven points, against Iowa and Minnesota. They also picked up a nonconference win over Oklahoma. Penn State, meanwhile, is 3-3 and still winless in October after dropping its White Out game to USC at Beaver Stadium, 31-23.
A big piece of the afternoon will be whether Penn State offensive play-caller Taylor Mouser can find a better rhythm against one of the Big Ten’s more athletic defenses. The Lions have struggled badly after halftime in conference games, putting up just 15 second-half points in Big Ten play. Against USC, they managed only six points in the final 30 minutes and also stumbled on third down, converting just 2 of 12 chances.
Michigan’s ground game centers on Jordan Marshall, the 5-10, 220-pound feature back who leads the team with 244 rushing yards on 55 carries and three touchdowns. Marshall was also Michigan’s leading rusher in 2025, when he piled up 932 yards and 10 scores.
Penn State will also keep leaning on Andrew Rappleyea. The fourth-year tight end caught seven passes for 63 yards against USC, including a 13-yard touchdown from quarterback Rocco Becht in the first quarter. That kind of trust could make Rappleyea a key option in the middle of the field against Michigan.
On the other side, Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill figures to be a major presence. The veteran is viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in the 2027 NFL draft, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition and has logged 25 tackles, two quarterback hurries and an interception. He should spend plenty of time matched up with Penn State’s top receivers, Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen.
Penn State’s pass rush has been another issue. Maiava was rarely pressured, and the Lions’ lone sack - by linebacker Tony Rojas - came in the first quarter.
Through six games, Penn State has eight sacks, with only two coming from edge rushers. Sophomore Yvan Kemajou leads that group in upside, and his stat line includes four quarterback hurries, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup.
In Other News...
Penn State White Out Loss Put One Staff Decision Under A Microscope
Penn States White Out loss to No. 19 USC left the Nittany Lions at 3-3 and sent the usual kind of postgame scrutiny in a different direction. The defeat was close enough to keep the discussion rooted in the details, from improvements by tight end Andrew Rappleyea and wide receiver Chase Sowell to the steady defensive presence of linebacker Tony Rojas, but it also sharpened attention on how the roster was being managed in a game that carried so much weight.
One of the cleaner storylines from the night was that some younger pieces kept showing signs of progress, even as the overall result slipped away. Safety Marcus Neal Jr. did not play, and running back James Peoples had an inefficient outing, leaving Penn State with a few more questions than answers as it tries to stabilize both sides of the ball after a loss that felt bigger than the final margin. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States White Out Loss Just Changed The Entire Postseason Conversation
The White Out loss to USC did more than hand Penn State a disappointing night at home. It also sent the postseason chatter in a sharply different direction, with the Nittany Lions now facing a much tougher path to anything resembling a deep run. What had been framed as a season with real playoff upside suddenly looks far less certain, and the national projections are reflecting that shift in a hurry.
Around the sport, the picture has turned bleak enough that Penn State is being slotted well outside the College Football Playoff conversation by major outlets. Some forecasts have already moved the Lions into the bowl-picture tier, with possibilities ranging from the ReliaQuest Bowl to the Duke's Mayo Bowl. For a team that entered the night with bigger ambitions, the next few weeks are now about salvaging the strongest finish possible and seeing where the rest of the bracket chaos leaves them. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Frustrating USC Loss Raised Another Big Question
Penn States 31-23 loss to Southern Cal at Beaver Stadium had plenty of familiar frustration attached to it, from the Trojans efficient offense to the crowd of 114,419 that packed the building for a record-setting afternoon. Jayden Maiava did the damage through the air with 301 passing yards and three touchdowns, while King Miller added a 102-yard ground effort that helped USC stay in control.
For the Nittany Lions, the setback carried the kind of weight that goes beyond one regular-season result. A full house and a national-stage atmosphere only sharpened the disappointment, because this was the sort of home game Penn State needed to turn into a statement. Instead, USC left with the win and Penn State was left with another question hanging over a season already searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]